Airlines Cancel 13,000 Flights Globally in May as Jet Fuel Prices Rise

Airlines have canceled 13,000 flights worldwide during May as jet fuel prices have risen sharply in connection with the conflict in the Middle East, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. The cuts have removed nearly two million seats from the month's schedule.

Istanbul and Munich saw the largest reductions in flights. The cancellations come ahead of the UK half-term holidays at the end of the month. The trade body for British airlines said carriers were operating as normal and not currently facing supply issues.

It welcomed government contingency plans that will allow airlines to cancel flights at busy airports without losing take-off and landing slots. The cancellations for May represent just 1 percent of global flights. UK flights to key summer sun destinations are unaffected, according to the travel agents' trade body Advantage Travel Partnership.

Chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said said airlines will be assessing poor performance flights and consolidating or cancelling as required. She added that the cancellations are overall marginal and UK departures, including key summer sun destinations, remain unaffected.

Jet fuel prices have more than doubled since the beginning of the war. One tonne was trading at $831 in late February and reached a high of $1,838 by early April. Airlines have said they are not currently experiencing fuel supply problems. The UK imports about 65 percent of the jet fuel it uses, with a significant portion normally coming from the Middle East.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has blocked those supplies.

Several carriers have trimmed their summer schedules, including Air France, KLM, Air Canada, Delta and SAS. The German group Lufthansa said earlier this month it would remove 20,000 flights between now and the end of October. In the UK, the government is preparing concessions that include allowing airlines to cancel flights at busy airports like Heathrow well in advance without risking slot losses.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was confident most people travelling this summer would have a similar experience to last year. Alexander said there was currently no disruption to the supply of jet fuel but this is an evolving situation.

In mid-April the head of the International Energy Agency warned that Europe would face jet fuel shortages by June unless more can be secured from elsewhere. Wizz Air's chief executive has said some European flight prices were falling as airlines seek to attract hesitant customers.

Many airlines have already increased ticket prices.